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[[Image:Christophercerf.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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[[File:Christophercerf.jpg|thumb|300px|Cerf with the Sesame Street Song Book.]]
   
'''Christopher B. Cerf''' (born August 19, 1941) brought a mid-century pop music sound to the music of ''[[Sesame Street]]'', writing songs for [[Little Jerry and the Monotones]] (for which he usually performed one of the back-up singers), [[Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats]] (for which he also performed the lead singer), and other short-lived pop-star parodies. Among his best known works are "[[Put Down the Duckie (song)|Put Down the Duckie]]" and "[[Monster in the Mirror]]," two collaborations with former ''Sesame Street'' head writer [[Norman Stiles]]. Both songs have been filmed in versions that feature large numbers of celebrities. He appears in the television documentary ''[[Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music]]'' in tribute to his friend and collaborator.
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'''Christopher B. Cerf''' (born August 19, 1941) brought a mid-century pop music sound to the music of ''[[Sesame Street]]'', writing songs for [[Little Jerry and the Monotones]] (for which he usually performed one of the back-up singers), [[Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats]] (for which he also performed the lead singer), and other short-lived pop-star parodies. Among his best known works are "[[Put Down the Duckie (song)|Put Down the Duckie]]" and "[[Monster in the Mirror]]," two collaborations with former ''Sesame Street'' head writer [[Norman Stiles]]. Both songs have been filmed in versions that feature large numbers of celebrities. He appears in the television documentary ''[[Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music]]'' in tribute to his friend and collaborator.
   
 
His father, [[Bennett Cerf]], was the co-founder of [[Random House]] books and a panelist of ''[[What's My Line?]]'' and his mother, Phyllis Fraser, co-founded Random House's ''Beginner Books'' with [[Dr. Seuss]]. His brother, [[Jonathan Cerf]], wrote ''[[Big Bird's Red Book]]''.
 
His father, [[Bennett Cerf]], was the co-founder of [[Random House]] books and a panelist of ''[[What's My Line?]]'' and his mother, Phyllis Fraser, co-founded Random House's ''Beginner Books'' with [[Dr. Seuss]]. His brother, [[Jonathan Cerf]], wrote ''[[Big Bird's Red Book]]''.
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Christopher Cerf is also the co-creator and an Executive Producer of ''[[Between the Lions]]''. He was a close personal friend of the late [[Douglas Adams]], acclaimed author of the ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' trilogy. He wrote the introduction for the US edition of ''The Salmon of Doubt'', a posthumous release of some of Adams' last works.
 
Christopher Cerf is also the co-creator and an Executive Producer of ''[[Between the Lions]]''. He was a close personal friend of the late [[Douglas Adams]], acclaimed author of the ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' trilogy. He wrote the introduction for the US edition of ''The Salmon of Doubt'', a posthumous release of some of Adams' last works.
  +
{{br}}
 
 
==Composer credits==
 
==Composer credits==
  +
According to his bio in ''Encyclopedia Paranoiaca'' (2012, with [[Henry Beard]]), Cerf has written over 300 ''Sesame Street'' songs.
<gallery perrow=3 widths=200 heights=150>
 
  +
<gallery orientation=landscape widths=200 spacing=small captionalign=center position=left hideaddbutton=true navigation="true">
 
Image:Aboveitall.jpg|[[Above It All]]
 
Image:Aboveitall.jpg|[[Above It All]]
 
Image:EnVogue.Adventure.jpg|[[Adventure]]
 
Image:EnVogue.Adventure.jpg|[[Adventure]]
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Image:Antarctica.jpg|[[Antarctica!]]
 
Image:Antarctica.jpg|[[Antarctica!]]
 
Image:Song.BacksBusyTappin.jpg|[[Back Front Tap Rap]]
 
Image:Song.BacksBusyTappin.jpg|[[Back Front Tap Rap]]
  +
BigWolfFamily.jpg|[[Bad Wolf]]
Image:BarnInUSA.jpg‎|[[Barn in the USA]]
+
Image:BarnInUSA.jpg‎|[[Barn in the USA]]
 
Image:Count-babycountonme.jpg‎|[[Baby, You Can Count on Me]]
 
Image:Count-babycountonme.jpg‎|[[Baby, You Can Count on Me]]
 
Image:BalladOfSlipperySlim.jpg|[[The Ballad of Slippery Slim]]
 
Image:BalladOfSlipperySlim.jpg|[[The Ballad of Slippery Slim]]
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Image:Song.betweenyoume.jpg|[[Between You and Me]]
 
Image:Song.betweenyoume.jpg|[[Between You and Me]]
 
Image:Song.BigBiggerBiggest.jpg|[[Big Bigger Biggest (song)|Big Bigger Biggest]]
 
Image:Song.BigBiggerBiggest.jpg|[[Big Bigger Biggest (song)|Big Bigger Biggest]]
  +
2938k.jpg|[[Big Bird's Rock Song]]
  +
2938m.jpg|[[Big Bird's Rock 'n Roll Song]]
 
Image:Song.birdlandjump.jpg|[[The Birdland Jump]]
 
Image:Song.birdlandjump.jpg|[[The Birdland Jump]]
  +
File:BloodTest.jpg|[[Blood Test]]
 
Image:Song.borntoadd.jpg|[[Born to Add (song)|Born to Add]]
 
Image:Song.borntoadd.jpg|[[Born to Add (song)|Born to Add]]
  +
BornToLearn.jpg|[[Born to Learn]]
 
Image:BrandNewLook.jpg|[[Brand New Look]]
 
Image:BrandNewLook.jpg|[[Brand New Look]]
  +
Breakfastclub.JPG|[[The Breakfast Club (Cerf/Evans)|The Breakfast Club]]
 
Image:Song.bubbleonmysnuffle.jpg|[[Bubble on My Snuffle]]
 
Image:Song.bubbleonmysnuffle.jpg|[[Bubble on My Snuffle]]
  +
BusyGettingBetter.jpg|[[Busy Getting Better All the Time]]
  +
BugsEverywhere.jpg|[[Bugs Song]]
 
Image:Song.cdrivesmecrazy.jpg|[[C Drives Me Crazy]]
 
Image:Song.cdrivesmecrazy.jpg|[[C Drives Me Crazy]]
 
Image:CloudNine.jpg|[[Cloud Nine]]
 
Image:CloudNine.jpg|[[Cloud Nine]]
 
Image:Cluckaroundtheclock.jpg|[[Cluck Around the Clock]]
 
Image:Cluckaroundtheclock.jpg|[[Cluck Around the Clock]]
  +
3164x.jpg|[[Coastline Song]]
 
Image:1706h.jpg|[[Coconut Counting Man]]
 
Image:1706h.jpg|[[Coconut Counting Man]]
 
Image:cookiediscoTV.jpg|[[Cookie Disco]]
 
Image:cookiediscoTV.jpg|[[Cookie Disco]]
  +
File:4128za.jpg|[[Letter of the Day|Cookie's R Rap Song]]
 
Image:Song.countithigher.jpg|[[Count it Higher (song)|Count it Higher]]
 
Image:Song.countithigher.jpg|[[Count it Higher (song)|Count it Higher]]
 
Image:Song.countingbackwardsinspanish.jpg|[[Counting Backwards in Spanish]]
 
Image:Song.countingbackwardsinspanish.jpg|[[Counting Backwards in Spanish]]
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Image:HowNowBrown.jpg|[[Danger's No Stranger]]
 
Image:HowNowBrown.jpg|[[Danger's No Stranger]]
 
Image:Bertdoor.JPG|[[Do De Rubber Duck]]
 
Image:Bertdoor.JPG|[[Do De Rubber Duck]]
  +
Image:Doo Wop Hop.jpg|[[Do-Op Hop]]
  +
Bennyhop.jpg|[[Do the Benny Hop]]
 
Image:DoTheDog.jpg|[[Do the Dog]]
 
Image:DoTheDog.jpg|[[Do the Dog]]
 
Image:Cookieangels.jpg|[[Don't Eat the Pictures (Song)|Don't Eat the Pictures]]
 
Image:Cookieangels.jpg|[[Don't Eat the Pictures (Song)|Don't Eat the Pictures]]
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Image:SignSaysDontWalk.JPG|[[Don't Walk]]
 
Image:SignSaysDontWalk.JPG|[[Don't Walk]]
 
Image:3154n.jpg|[[Don't Waste Water]]
 
Image:3154n.jpg|[[Don't Waste Water]]
Image:Doo Wop Hop.jpg|[[Doo Wop Hop]]
+
FireWolf.jpg|[[Don't You Go Back In]]
 
Image:2059x.jpg|[[D-U-C-K-I-E]]
 
Image:2059x.jpg|[[D-U-C-K-I-E]]
 
Image:3136j.jpg|[[Elbows and Knees]]
 
Image:3136j.jpg|[[Elbows and Knees]]
 
Image:Elephantelevator.jpg|[[The Elephant Elevator Operator]]
 
Image:Elephantelevator.jpg|[[The Elephant Elevator Operator]]
  +
Image:Song.fivejive.jpg|[[Elmo's Jive Five]]
  +
ReadingAndWritingDay.jpg|[[Every Day's a Reading and Writing Day]]
  +
Song.everybodynap.jpg|[[Everybody Nap]]
 
Image:Song-exit.jpg|[[Exit]]
 
Image:Song-exit.jpg|[[Exit]]
 
Image:FaceFacts.jpg|[[Face Facts]]
 
Image:FaceFacts.jpg|[[Face Facts]]
Image:Song.fivejive.jpg|[[Five Jive with Elmo Hammer]]
+
Image:3164g.jpg|[[Four Lambs Together]]
 
Image:3982c.jpg|[[Furry Happy Monsters]]
 
Image:3982c.jpg|[[Furry Happy Monsters]]
  +
2938o.jpg|[[Gimme Some Rock 'n Roll]]
  +
File:4419-Horse.png|[[A Girl and Her Horse]]
 
Image:GoBabyGo!.jpg|[[Gonna Rock You to Sleep]]
 
Image:GoBabyGo!.jpg|[[Gonna Rock You to Sleep]]
 
Image:Googlebugle.jpg|[[Google Boogle]]
 
Image:Googlebugle.jpg|[[Google Boogle]]
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Image:ICan'tGetNoCooperation.jpg|[[(I Can't Get No) Co-Operation]]
 
Image:ICan'tGetNoCooperation.jpg|[[(I Can't Get No) Co-Operation]]
 
Image:IfElmoHadTeeth.jpg|[[If Elmo Had Teeth]]
 
Image:IfElmoHadTeeth.jpg|[[If Elmo Had Teeth]]
  +
3150p.jpg|[[It's Harder the First Time]]
 
Image:Gotoschool1.jpg|[[I Go to School]]
 
Image:Gotoschool1.jpg|[[I Go to School]]
  +
Image:4135-abbysong.jpg|[[I Love Words]]
 
Image:4125s.jpg|[[I Want to Be Me]]
 
Image:4125s.jpg|[[I Want to Be Me]]
 
Image:Wishihadafriend.jpg|[[I Wish I Had a Friend to Play With Me]]
 
Image:Wishihadafriend.jpg|[[I Wish I Had a Friend to Play With Me]]
 
Image:RememberILoveYou.jpg|[[I'll Always Remember I Love You]]
 
Image:RememberILoveYou.jpg|[[I'll Always Remember I Love You]]
 
Image:Song.ImABookwormBaby.jpg|[[I'm a Bookworm, Baby!]]
 
Image:Song.ImABookwormBaby.jpg|[[I'm a Bookworm, Baby!]]
  +
File:4419d.png|[[I'm a Kangaroo]]
  +
File:4419-Lobster.png|[[I'm a Lobster]]
 
Image:4134u.jpg|[[I'm Gonna Get to You]]
 
Image:4134u.jpg|[[I'm Gonna Get to You]]
  +
File:4419-Beast.png|[[I'm Looking for a Beast]]
 
Image:Song.sadhappy.jpg|[[I'm Sad Because I'm Happy]]
 
Image:Song.sadhappy.jpg|[[I'm Sad Because I'm Happy]]
 
Image:Inout.jpg|[[In and Out Crowd]]
 
Image:Inout.jpg|[[In and Out Crowd]]
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Image:2795m.jpg|[[The Inside Story]]
 
Image:2795m.jpg|[[The Inside Story]]
 
Image:ItsMyFeather.jpg|[[It Ain't Heavy, It's My Feather]]
 
Image:ItsMyFeather.jpg|[[It Ain't Heavy, It's My Feather]]
  +
StartsWithGoo.jpg|[[It All Starts with Goo Goo Goo]]
 
Image:Zydeco.jpg|[[It's Zydeco]]
 
Image:Zydeco.jpg|[[It's Zydeco]]
 
Image:3136m.jpg|[[Jump]]
 
Image:3136m.jpg|[[Jump]]
  +
KidsGottaListen.jpg|[[Kids Gotta Listen and Kids Gotta Speak]]
  +
3159m.jpg|[[(The Name of the Place is) The Laundromat]]
 
Image:Thebeetles.jpg|[[Letter B]]
 
Image:Thebeetles.jpg|[[Letter B]]
 
Image:LongTimeNoSee.jpg|[[Long Time, No See]]
 
Image:LongTimeNoSee.jpg|[[Long Time, No See]]
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Image:MeGoingtoMunchYou.jpg|[[Me Going to Munch You, Munch You, Munch You]]
 
Image:MeGoingtoMunchYou.jpg|[[Me Going to Munch You, Munch You, Munch You]]
 
Image:Megottabeblue.jpg|[[Me Gotta Be Blue]]
 
Image:Megottabeblue.jpg|[[Me Gotta Be Blue]]
Image:Monsterinthemirror.jpg|[[Monster in The Mirror]]
+
Image:Monsterinthemirror.jpg|[[Monster in the Mirror]]
 
Image:Character.mrbetween.jpg|[[Mr. Between (song)|Mr. Between]]
 
Image:Character.mrbetween.jpg|[[Mr. Between (song)|Mr. Between]]
Image:2485m.jpg|[[Near to You]]
+
Image:Song.natashaslullabye.jpg|[[Natasha's Lullabye]]
  +
Image:NearFar.balcony.jpg|[[Near and Far (Cerf)|Near and Far]]
  +
Travelsongs.jpg|[[Ninety Nine Bats (In My Car Today)]]
 
Image:Band.oscarsjunkband.jpg|[[Oscar's Junk Band]]
 
Image:Band.oscarsjunkband.jpg|[[Oscar's Junk Band]]
  +
Image:Noimage-big.png|[[Our Grouch (and We're Stuck with You)]]
 
Image:Onmypond.jpg|[[On My Pond]]
 
Image:Onmypond.jpg|[[On My Pond]]
 
Image:OnceIsNotEnough.JPG|[[Once is Not Enough]]
 
Image:OnceIsNotEnough.JPG|[[Once is Not Enough]]
 
Image:OneWaysong.jpg‎|[[One Way]]
 
Image:OneWaysong.jpg‎|[[One Way]]
 
File:OppositeGame.JPG|[[Opposite Game]]
 
File:OppositeGame.JPG|[[Opposite Game]]
Image:Noimage.png[[The Opposite Song]]
+
File:TheOppositeSong.jpg|[[The Opposite Song]]
 
Image:PutDowntheDuckie.jpg|[[Put Down the Duckie (song)|Put Down the Duckie]]
 
Image:PutDowntheDuckie.jpg|[[Put Down the Duckie (song)|Put Down the Duckie]]
  +
TracyChapman.jpg|[[Questions]]
  +
GladImMe.jpg|[[Really, Really, Really Glad I'm Me]]
 
Image:RebelLsong.jpg‎|[[Rebel L]]
 
Image:RebelLsong.jpg‎|[[Rebel L]]
 
Image:Chrissyandthealphabeats.jpg|[[Rock 'N Roll Readers]]
 
Image:Chrissyandthealphabeats.jpg|[[Rock 'N Roll Readers]]
  +
RockNRollStar.jpg|[[Rock 'N Roll Star]]
  +
3150u.jpg|[[Rollin' on the River]]
 
Image:4027c.jpg|[[Rosita (song)|Rosita]]
 
Image:4027c.jpg|[[Rosita (song)|Rosita]]
 
Image:Toothpaste.jpg|[[Say Toothpaste, Somebody!]]
 
Image:Toothpaste.jpg|[[Say Toothpaste, Somebody!]]
 
Image:4116za.jpg|[[Shake Your Rattle and Roll]]
 
Image:4116za.jpg|[[Shake Your Rattle and Roll]]
  +
Song.ShortTall.jpg|[[Short or Tall]]
  +
3161u.jpg|[[Silly Squirrel Dance]]
  +
SnufflePolka.jpg|[[The Snuffleupagus Polka]]
  +
SometimesACookie.jpg|[[Sometimes a Cookie]]
 
Image:StandByYourCan.jpg|[[Stand By Your Can]]
 
Image:StandByYourCan.jpg|[[Stand By Your Can]]
 
Image:1sxu02&s-1-.jpg‎|[[Startin' Kindergarten]]
 
Image:1sxu02&s-1-.jpg‎|[[Startin' Kindergarten]]
  +
Image:Bert-moranis.jpg|[[Stick Out Your Hand and Say Hello]]
 
Image:TallTale.jpg|[[Tall Tale]]
 
Image:TallTale.jpg|[[Tall Tale]]
 
Image:Littlejerryandthemonotones.jpg|[[Telephone Rock]]
 
Image:Littlejerryandthemonotones.jpg|[[Telephone Rock]]
 
Image:10CommandmentsofHealth.jpg|[[The Ten Commandments of Health]]
 
Image:10CommandmentsofHealth.jpg|[[The Ten Commandments of Health]]
 
Image:Canttakethat.jpg‎|[[They Can't Take That Away from Me (Sesame Street)]]
 
Image:Canttakethat.jpg‎|[[They Can't Take That Away from Me (Sesame Street)]]
  +
3187za.jpg|[[Things Are Always Changin']]
  +
Image:4122bj.jpg|[[Thirteen Is My Lucky Number]]
 
Image:2874d.jpg|[[This Song Is for the Birds]]
 
Image:2874d.jpg|[[This Song Is for the Birds]]
 
Image:001.JPG|[[Up and Down Opera]]
 
Image:001.JPG|[[Up and Down Opera]]
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Image:4137m.jpg|[[Washin' the Dog]]
 
Image:4137m.jpg|[[Washin' the Dog]]
 
Image:3007f.jpg|[[Watching All the Triangles Go]]
 
Image:3007f.jpg|[[Watching All the Triangles Go]]
Image:Song.WhenYouGrowUp.jpg|[[When You Grow Up]]
+
Image:WeHateTheRain.jpg|[[We Hate the Rain]]
Image:3831oinkerBsong.jpg|[[Where Can You Be, B?]]
+
3816h.jpg|[[We're All Growin']]
 
Image:WetorDry.jpg|[[Wet or Dry]]
 
Image:WetorDry.jpg|[[Wet or Dry]]
 
Image:Wetpaintsong.jpg‎|[[Wet Paint (Cerf/Stone)|Wet Paint]]
 
Image:Wetpaintsong.jpg‎|[[Wet Paint (Cerf/Stone)|Wet Paint]]
 
Image:WetPaintSign.jpg|[[Wet Paint Sign]]
 
Image:WetPaintSign.jpg|[[Wet Paint Sign]]
  +
Image:Song.WhenYouGrowUp.jpg|[[When You Grow Up]]
  +
Image:3831oinkerBsong.jpg|[[Where Can You Be, B?]]
  +
Whatsinside2.jpg|[[What's Inside? (song) | What's Inside?]]|link=What's Inside? (song)
  +
Image:Season31LittleJerry.jpg‎|[[When You Move the Mouse]]
 
Image:Nosong.jpg|[[The Word is "No"]]
 
Image:Nosong.jpg|[[The Word is "No"]]
  +
WriteItDown.jpg|[[Write it Down]]
 
Image:3816s.jpg|[[You Don't Have to Be a Grizzly]]
 
Image:3816s.jpg|[[You Don't Have to Be a Grizzly]]
  +
BePatient.jpg|[[You Gotta Be Patient (To Be a Patient)]]
 
Image:Little chrissy you're alive.jpg|[[You're Alive]]
 
Image:Little chrissy you're alive.jpg|[[You're Alive]]
 
Image:2356-4.jpg|[[ZZ Blues]]
 
Image:2356-4.jpg|[[ZZ Blues]]
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==References==
 
==References==
  +
[[Image:Cerf-ernie-henson.jpg|thumb|300px|Cerf with [[Ernie]] and [[Jim Henson]].]]
 
<references />
 
<references />
   
Line 139: Line 186:
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Cerf Wikipedia Article on Christopher Cerf]
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Cerf Wikipedia Article on Christopher Cerf]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/chriscerf Cerf's official YouTube channel]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/chriscerf Cerf's official YouTube channel]
  +
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC-6718iZEE Christopher Cerf, 2010 McGraw Prize in Education Winner]
 
[[Category:Writers|Cerf, Christopher]]
 
[[Category:Writers|Cerf, Christopher]]
 
[[Category:Composers|Cerf, Christopher]]
 
[[Category:Composers|Cerf, Christopher]]

Revision as of 22:29, 20 August 2014

Christophercerf

Cerf with the Sesame Street Song Book.

Christopher B. Cerf (born August 19, 1941) brought a mid-century pop music sound to the music of Sesame Street, writing songs for Little Jerry and the Monotones (for which he usually performed one of the back-up singers), Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats (for which he also performed the lead singer), and other short-lived pop-star parodies. Among his best known works are "Put Down the Duckie" and "Monster in the Mirror," two collaborations with former Sesame Street head writer Norman Stiles. Both songs have been filmed in versions that feature large numbers of celebrities. He appears in the television documentary Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music in tribute to his friend and collaborator.

His father, Bennett Cerf, was the co-founder of Random House books and a panelist of What's My Line? and his mother, Phyllis Fraser, co-founded Random House's Beginner Books with Dr. Seuss. His brother, Jonathan Cerf, wrote Big Bird's Red Book.

Some characters that Cerf has provided voices for include Little Chrissy, Chrissy, Bruce Stringbean, Mick Swagger, How Now Brown, the Lead Frazzletone, the singer of the Cecille theme song, and the Captain from "Imagine That!"

Sesame Place's The Game Centre was "the creative brain-child of Cerf.[1]

Christopher Cerf is also the co-creator and an Executive Producer of Between the Lions. He was a close personal friend of the late Douglas Adams, acclaimed author of the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy. He wrote the introduction for the US edition of The Salmon of Doubt, a posthumous release of some of Adams' last works.

Composer credits

According to his bio in Encyclopedia Paranoiaca (2012, with Henry Beard), Cerf has written over 300 Sesame Street songs.

References

Cerf-ernie-henson

Cerf with Ernie and Jim Henson.

  1. "Correction: Ahl's only part of Sesame Place", InfoWorld, October 31, 1979.

External links